Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

P.O.D's Bold Leap to Mainstream In the arena of heavy music, the leap from niche corners to the glaring spotlight of mainstream success is a path fraught with challenges. Yet, P.O.D (Payable on Death) navigates this journey with unparalleled audacity and energy in their major label debut, "The Fundamental Elements of Southtown." This record is more than a mere collection of tracks; it's a profound statement marking a deft crossover from the band's Christian artistry roots to a broader mainstream rock audience. The Genre-Defying Sound of Southtown "The Fundamental Elements of Southtown" is a testament to P.O.D's mastery in blending diverse genres. The album is a rich tapestry woven with threads of nu-metal, reggae, and hip-hop. It opens with "Hollywood," a track that sets the tone for an album that oscillates between raw energy and deep introspection. Songs like "Southtown" and the anthemic "Rock the Party (Off the Hoo...

  Slick Shoes' "Wake Up Screaming" is here to shake the cobwebs off your eardrums! Let's skate through this punk rock masterpiece that refuses to be just another background track to your daily grind. "Wake Up Screaming": Not Your Average Lullaby The Sound: A Sonic Rollercoaster From the get-go, "Wake Up Screaming" grips you with the kind of energy that makes you want to jump on your bed—or better yet, into a mosh pit. The album is a harmonious chaos of rapid drum beats, bass lines that walk a tightrope between melody and madness, and guitar riffs that zigzag through your consciousness like lightning. It's as if the band decided that sleep is overrated and instead crafted a soundtrack for the sleepless. Lyrics: Poetry in Motion Punk rock isn't just about the noise; it's the voice of the restless and the misunderstood. Slick Shoes proves they've got plenty to say and the right decibel to be heard. The lyrics in "Wake Up...

  When it comes to bands that have left a remarkable imprint on the Christian punk scene, Dogwood is a name that often resonates with fans for their genuine lyrics and compelling sound. Their record "Building a Better Me" isn't just an album; it's a bold statement of faith, wrapped in the energetic riffs and raw emotion that define punk music. Released at a time when the genre was exploring its identity, this album stands out as a testament to the band's musical prowess and their commitment to spreading a positive message through their art. Musical Mastery and Lyrics "Building a Better Me" is a masterpiece that showcases Dogwood's ability to fuse powerful punk melodies with profound Christian messages. The opening track sets the tone for the album, delivering punchy guitar riffs and energetic drum beats that immediately grab your attention. But it's not just the music that makes this album stand out—the lyrics are thoughtfully crafted, resona...

Unleashing Energy: The Opening Act Hey there, music enthusiasts! Let's dive into the vibrant world of Dogwood and their latest offering, "More Than Conquerors." This record is not just a collection of tracks; it's a journey, a statement, and a vibrant mosaic of melodic prowess that deserves a spot in your playlist. From the get-go, "More Than Conquerors" grips you with its raw energy and compelling lyrics. It's clear that Dogwood hasn't just created songs; they've crafted stories, each track resonating with the earnestness of life's highs and lows. A Harmonious Journey: Track Transition and Consistency The standout feature of this album is, without a doubt, its remarkable consistency. Each song transitions seamlessly into the next, maintaining a rhythm that's both exhilarating and introspective. The band's skill in balancing intense, fast-paced anthems with thoughtful, slower melodies is commendable. It's this dynamic range that k...

Rating: 4 out 5 I grew up in a religious home and part of my journey involved not listening to a lot of secular music for a time. While I never really followed that, it meant that I was always digging through the proverbial crates looking for anything Christian alternative. That’s where I found Slick Shoes’ first EP with just a few songs they had me hooked. They would then release “Rusty” and blow me away with pop punk glory. The band would go on to put out some quality records, and continue to grow into a pop punk mega power, even though they seemed to lack that next level success that you’d get from bands like MXPX or New Found Glory. Regardless of all that, they still managed to put a staple on the pop punk world, crossing over from Christian music into the mainstream at times. With the 2019 release of “Broadcasting”, the band put together 21 tracks of live music, and it features something from every iteration of the band’s storied career. There is no wasted moment on the record...

Chevelle "Point #1" Click Here To Buy   

This has moved to jdune.com

This has moved to jdune.com

This has moved to jdune.com

Jars of Clay "Much Afraid" - Available Here  Even though Jars of Clay received platinum certification for “Much Afraid” , and was at the eight spot on the Billboard charts when this came out, this album was seen as disappointing for a lot of fans. I wasn’t so quick to judge it. I was 14 years old when this came out, and I needed something to help me through a life in the suburbs. My family moved 40 miles north of Los Angeles to a place that I was unfamiliar with. The home was in shambles emotionally, with abuse running rampant, and this record had me comforted. We stopped going to church, but I held a spiritual element to my world, and the words of Jars of Clay seemed to fit holes in my proverbial bucket. It’s a softer record than their previous one, and while the singles that they put out had electric guitar, it was the lyrical and spiritual blends that made this one a stand out for me in my collection, at the time. A lot has changed since I first heard this record, but ...

The Almost "No Gift To Bring" EP - Available Here The year was 2008, and The Almost was splintered from the Underoath camp. This is a band that took a piece of Underoath and made a whole new rock and roll band. Now, with the release of this record, “No Gift To Bring” The Almost put on a showcase of holiday music that is nothing short of fascinating. The songs to me are sincere, and just beautiful. “No Gift To Bring” is a wonderful little record that features a whole heart of the Christmas season, especially if you’re of a religious inclination.

Falling Up put out a Christmas record in 2013 , and most people I know were too old to care. In fact, what is it with people getting old and forgetting about music? I don’t know, it’s just something that I can never do. I know, I’m getting older, but I always strive to listen to the songs that people are putting out. That aside, Falling Up put through one of the most beautiful records for Christmas, and it’s definitely left of center. This takes on an approach of arranging Christmas tunes with a hint of rock, a hint of pop, and a reverence and care that the season certainly deserves. Silver City by Falling Up LP The compositions are layered with keyboards, drums, singing, and melodies that you expect from the band. If you’re new to Falling Up’s music, then you may not immediately understand what I mean. However, as you progress through the tracks, and the way the band has faithfully arranged many to fit both the traditional and alternative worlds, you will be captivated. If you l...

Jars of Clay "Chrismas Songs" LP In 2007, Jars of Clay put out a very cool Christmas record out. I actually was able to pick this up for free because I sent in a letter to a televangelist. Anyways, this is quite possibly one of the more traditional “alternative” Christmas records. I say that because Jars of Clay’s sound lends itself very well to the traditional sounds of Christmas. That’s not to say that this is a record that is full of boring music. That’s actually not the case at all. There are some great moments on this record. The arrangements of the songs are well structured, acoustic, full of instrumentation and absolutely grand. What you’re going to find with some of these songs is that they stick with you. There’s a certain reverence that is paid to these songs. Jars of Clay finds a way to amaze, and create elemental music that is just amazing. Some of my favorite songs on this record include, “The Gift of St. Cecilia”, “Wonderful Christmastime”, “Winter Skin”, ...

Relient K "Self Titled" LP Relient K put out their debut in 2000 and it was one of those records that I immediately gravitated towards. It was pop punk, and it had a slice of religious ideology that I had started to collect. At the time, I was going to a cult, er, I mean church that damned everyone that bought a secular record. I had a TON of them, but I wasn’t about to let anyone in on the massive collection of music that I had. The good thing about that period was that I would be exposed to a TON of great bands from the “Christian” scene. Relient K is one of the talented bands that I got stuck in my head all the time. The guys put out this incredible debut, and it still rings true today. From the start of “Hello McFly” you get a sense of joy and fun from the band. These guys, to me, were like The Aquabats in many ways. Going through some jovial tunes, throwing down some interesting takes on being a good person, and overall, just having fun. There’s a few serious note...

Relient K "The Anatomy of The Tongue and Cheek" LP Ah yes, 2001, the year that Relient K were seniors in the world of punk rock high school. Their first record was good, no doubt, but the guys came back with 17 tracks and nearly an hour of pop punk goodness. It’s here that the dual singing punkers really put on a showcase for the immortals. Whether you are a fan of punk in the Christian scene or not, you have to admit this this is a record that is well composed, easy to digest, and right on par with Screeching Weasel, and others. It’s poppy, it’s punk rock, it’s “safe”? Yeah, “The Anatomy of The Tongue In Cheek” took on a whole new world of punk rock when released, and I was thrilled to hear them put on a showcase on tour with the likes of Five Iron Frenzy and Mxpx. This is a much harder record than the original, at least in regards to the guitar work. The lyrical elements are funny, then there are serious topics like that of “Down In Flames”, which talks about hypocr...

Beauty To Ashes "Reproduce The Common Practice"  In 2002, I was delighted to see that one of the best bands in Southern California had finally inked a deal to release their first record. Of course, the band had done a few things on the independent tip, but they finally put out a full length and I was excited to see them grow. The band was Beauty To Ashes. The record was titled “Reproduce The Common Practice” and it blew the doors down on the hardcore scene, for about a few weeks. What happened to the band? Well, like a lot of other hardcore bands, money, family, and reality hit them hard. Not only that, this record is only 21 minutes long, which means that the band didn’t exactly put on the best showing. The songs on “Reproduce The Common Practice” are a far cry from the initial EP that they put out. However, they were able to harness some of their best studio work and create a good overall sound. “Bystandards of a Lifestyle Obsession” for instance, is a definitive sh...

When Mxpx jumped to A&M Records, I heard a lot of rumblings about how they sold out, and they weren’t Christians any longer. I didn’t care. I first heard a single from this record on KROQ in Los Angeles during Jed The Fish’s Catch of the Day segment. Released in 1998, produced by Steve Kravac, and the major label debut of the band, this is a solid outing. It’s not “polished” completely, it’s raw, it’s more interesting than “Life In General”, and it had a great treble to the bass sound. What I find cool about the history of this record, is that it took the band 2 years to get certified Gold (500,000 sales) for this one. That’s a sizable accomplishment for the trio from Bremerton, Washington. Stand out tracks here include “The Final Slowdance”, “I’m Ok, You’re Ok”, “The Downfall of Western Civilization”, “For Always”, “Self Serving With A Purpose”. The treble is too high in my view, but that’s what the band wanted. It’s a shining moment for them. You can pick up “Slowly Going The Way...

I remember when Fat Mike of Nofx announced that they signed Mxpx for a release. That’s what happened in 2001, which you got a 9 track EP that really changed the pace of the band. This came after “The Ever Passing Moment” that netted the band some MTV and Radio Play as well as a Pepsi commercial. With this EP, the band toned down a bit, and you hear it with the raw sound. Yuri and Tom played producers on here, with some great tracks, including “Lonesome Town”, and “Party II (Time To Go)” as highlights. It’s short, 9 tracks for 18 minutes, but it’s an interesting release from Fat Wreck Chords, none the less. “The Renaissance EP” is one of my personal favorites from the band, as it really was a bridge between full length releases. Classic West Coast Punk rock, with a DIY style of production, you’ll hear it when you hear it. You can pick up “The Renaissance EP” from Mxpx for $5.75 new here , or you can get it for $0.01 here . It’s a great one, but look for the Vinyl LP, which I prefer.

I was living in Seattle when Mxpx decided to put out “Secret Weapon”. It was officially put out July, 2007, and I had just moved in March. Living in Seattle was grand because that meant the band was doing a lot of in-store appearances. It was one hell of a record, and I had the special edition, plus the double 12” vinyl. The CD version was also grand, and I had them all signed when I met up with the band at Silver Platters. Anyways, this is a strong record with a lot of great songs, and possibly the best from the band since their 1996 record. Some of my favorites include “Secret Weapon”, “Shut It Down”, “Angels”, “Drowning”, “Chop Shop”, and “Bass So Low”. Overall, these songs are great, but the whole record is a huge release that deserves a lot more attention. It’s polished, it sold well, it’s a favorite, what can I say? Produced by Aaron Sprinkle, this is a killer sounding album. You can pick up “Secret Weapon” from Mxpx for $5.99 new here , or you could pick it up used for $0.23 her...

One of the shining lights for me in 2009, was when I picked up this record from Mxpx. This is a collection of Christmas tracks from the band. “Punk Rawk Christmas” is a very awesome record, and if you’re savvy, you can find the limited edition 7” record that has a couple of acoustic B-Sides. Other than that, you can get 14 tracks or 16 tracks on the bonus edition. Either way, the record is a compilation of tracks that were released to PxPx members, but other than that, 2 extra tracks came through. Ok, this is a punk rock Christmas album, and it’s one of the best alternative Christmas records that you’re going to find today. I love it. The fun mix of punk, and even hip hop is great. Mxpx does amazing things with the traditional and non-traditional songs. My favorite is none other than “Christmas Night of the Living Dead”, which is rad. If you like alternative Christmas records, Mxpx Punk Rawk Christmas is $9.99 new and used , it’s out of print. It’s worth it!